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crafts fair rainouts - what to do?

updated fri 14 jun 02

 

Lois Ruben Aronow on tue 11 jun 02


The day looms closer to my first "real" fair (26th Annual Craft Fair @
Lincoln Ctr, in NYC, for anyone who can attend). It's this weekend!

I'm excited. I'm ready. I'm even priced and packed. To top it off,
I had quite a few choice pieces come out of the kiln, and I'm going to
the photog on Thursday, to get slides done before I sell the ware.

Anyhow, they're predicting RAIN! I'm not worried about me or my ware
(it won't melt, after all) but with rain comes no customers. What do
others do in the event of rain. Do you not even bother to go,
depending on the intensity of the downpour? Stick it out regardless?
This is an outdoor rain-or-shine show.

Just curious.
--------------------------------------------
Lois Ruben Aronow
gilois@bellatlantic.net

=46ine Craft Porcelain
http://www.loisaronow.com

Susan Fox-Hirschmann on tue 11 jun 02


Hi Lois,
I have done crafts shows for 20 years and yes, sometimes it rains.
Problem is, if you don/t go and set up, there is always the likelihood that
you will miss the clearing skies. Of course, depends where you are, as far
as crowds. In Ann Arbor, they come rain, shine, and buy, but not with
tornedo watches! At Lincoln Center, tis entirely different, and rain, alas
will certainly dampen the crowd. I have done that show, years ago, and
remember that to be true.
Just take a good canopy (Craft Hut) has helped me weather many a rain storm,
and hope for the best.
The other thing about your not showing is that if you don/t there is a real
good chance of getting black balled by the promoter. And there is a whole
other story with crap like that!
Of course you can try calling the promoter prior to the show, as some will
have rain dates, etc. tho think Lincoln Center that is almost surely not
the case.
Best of luck! I will wish for sun for you
Susan
fox
hirschmann


>From: Lois Ruben Aronow
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Crafts Fair Rainouts - what to do?
>Date: Tue, 11 Jun 2002 18:00:38 -0400
>
>The day looms closer to my first "real" fair (26th Annual Craft Fair @
>Lincoln Ctr, in NYC, for anyone who can attend). It's this weekend!
>
>I'm excited. I'm ready. I'm even priced and packed. To top it off,
>I had quite a few choice pieces come out of the kiln, and I'm going to
>the photog on Thursday, to get slides done before I sell the ware.
>
>Anyhow, they're predicting RAIN! I'm not worried about me or my ware
>(it won't melt, after all) but with rain comes no customers. What do
>others do in the event of rain. Do you not even bother to go,
>depending on the intensity of the downpour? Stick it out regardless?
>This is an outdoor rain-or-shine show.
>
>Just curious.
>--------------------------------------------
>Lois Ruben Aronow
>gilois@bellatlantic.net
>
>Fine Craft Porcelain
>http://www.loisaronow.com
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.




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Celia Littlecreek on tue 11 jun 02


----- Original Message ----- snipped
From: "Lois Ruben Aronow"
>
> Anyhow, they're predicting RAIN! I'm not worried about me or my ware
> (it won't melt, after all) but with rain comes no customers. What do
> others do in the event of rain. Do you not even bother to go,
> depending on the intensity of the downpour? Stick it out regardless?
> This is an outdoor rain-or-shine show.
>
> Just curious.
>You might want to check with the show. Some shows will not let you come
back the next year if you leave early this year. I once had a show (in
2001) that I made only one sale on Friday, several on Saturday and nothing
on Sunday. It rained all day Friday and Sunday. I wanted to come back the
next year because it was the best show for me in 2000 and I had hopes it
would be better in 2002. If I had left any time during that show, I would
not be able to come back this year.

You also might want to consider how much you have had to pay for your booth
space. I didn't want to lose my $185 space. If had been a 50 dollar show,
it would have been a different matter.

claybair on tue 11 jun 02


Lois,
You go!
Most shows I have done indicate specific times for set up and tear down.
If you have promoted your show to your mailing list and you are a no show it
is bad PR.
I learned that the hard way last year. I did a dog of a show where there
were more vendors than customers. At the end of the day I packed up and left
and didn't return for day two. Now to my embarrassment I found out that a
Clayart person and a person who admires my work came the 2nd day to see me.
I won't do that again!
Last year at a 3 day show a black cloud dumped torrents on what would have
been the busiest day. Oddly enough there were customers who braved the rain
some of them were drenched but not deterred. In spite of the weather I made
sales that day, not a lot but enough to be glad I stayed.
The other thing is... you never know who might come by & see your work. Hey,
NYC the possibilities are endless!
Have a great show!
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island, WA
http://claybair.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Lois Ruben Aronow
Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 3:01 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Crafts Fair Rainouts - what to do?


The day looms closer to my first "real" fair (26th Annual Craft Fair @
Lincoln Ctr, in NYC, for anyone who can attend). It's this weekend!

I'm excited. I'm ready. I'm even priced and packed. To top it off,
I had quite a few choice pieces come out of the kiln, and I'm going to
the photog on Thursday, to get slides done before I sell the ware.

Anyhow, they're predicting RAIN! I'm not worried about me or my ware
(it won't melt, after all) but with rain comes no customers. What do
others do in the event of rain. Do you not even bother to go,
depending on the intensity of the downpour? Stick it out regardless?
This is an outdoor rain-or-shine show.

Just curious.
--------------------------------------------
Lois Ruben Aronow
gilois@bellatlantic.net

Fine Craft Porcelain
http://www.loisaronow.com

Longtin, Jeff on wed 12 jun 02


Lois,
Definitely go!!!
Curious thing about rain. Depending upon how serious the weather is, i.e.
how much rain,how dangerous the winds, the REALLY SERIOUS buyers have a
tendency to be the first ones back out. The browsers tend to stay home in
such situations. If the whole weekend is rainy though you could have a
washout but that's unlikely.
You'll also find a curious sense of commaraderie amongst other exhibitors
that's rather nice.
Sometimes if you're the lone potter in a certain area and the other crafters
have gone home customers will tend to congregate around your booth and tend
to draw more people to your booth.
Being the lone exhibitor also tends to generate a sense of goodwill amongst
folks. At one show years ago 6 or 7 people chipped in and held plastic over
the display. We all had a good laugh and after the rain stopped a few bought
some pots as well.
Good Luck!!
Jeff Longtin



-----Original Message-----
From: Lois Ruben Aronow [mailto:gilois@BELLATLANTIC.NET]
Sent: Tuesday, June 11, 2002 5:01 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Crafts Fair Rainouts - what to do?


The day looms closer to my first "real" fair (26th Annual Craft Fair @
Lincoln Ctr, in NYC, for anyone who can attend). It's this weekend!

I'm excited. I'm ready. I'm even priced and packed. To top it off,
I had quite a few choice pieces come out of the kiln, and I'm going to
the photog on Thursday, to get slides done before I sell the ware.

Anyhow, they're predicting RAIN! I'm not worried about me or my ware
(it won't melt, after all) but with rain comes no customers. What do
others do in the event of rain. Do you not even bother to go,
depending on the intensity of the downpour? Stick it out regardless?
This is an outdoor rain-or-shine show.

Just curious.
--------------------------------------------
Lois Ruben Aronow
gilois@bellatlantic.net

Fine Craft Porcelain
http://www.loisaronow.com

____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

Lois Ruben Aronow on wed 12 jun 02


I look at it this way - I have my EX Up, a friend who's also doing the
show, and a good book. So even if it rains and the turnout is poor, I
have some child-free time to myself. =20

Thanks to all for their support and advice!


--------------------------------------------
Lois Ruben Aronow
gilois@bellatlantic.net

=46ine Craft Porcelain
http://www.loisaronow.com

Imzadi . on wed 12 jun 02


Unless it has changed, as I recall, if the whole two days get rained out,
there was an alternate rain weekend date. If only one day got rained out,
your out of luck.

That being said, as a customer and art & craft lover, I looked forward to
the
two times a year the crafts fair was held at Lincoln Center. I circled it on
my calendar so as NOT to miss it. This fair in particular is one of the best
juried, diverse, non-admission charge crafts fairs that NYC offers. It is
one
of the few times that I was able to find and see unique artists form other
parts of the country instead of the same old, same old at the local NYC
studios that I can see any time. (This is not a slap at local NYC studios.)

It was just wonderful seeing raku and pitfire pots from AZ, horsehair
pottery
from CO, REAL Southwestern pottery from New Mexico, etc. It was great to see
the evolution in style from year to year of returning artists.

As a native New Yorker, I knew to watch the weather reports to find the best
date or times of day to attend, in case of rain. And on the weekends that it
did rain heavily all weekend, I looked for a sunny break in the weather to
finally go. When I would show up, I was sometimes pissed and disappointed
when many booths were closed and empty and only a few of the listed vendors
showed. I did MY part! I showed up. I waited all year for you. I was ready
to
Ooh! and gasp over your pots.

Lois, please DO go open your booth, no matter what. The people who do show
up, will be the die hards like me. :-D It will be worth pouring all the
rainwater out of your pots as you pack them to go home.

Imzadi

Meg Levine on thu 13 jun 02


Lois- I will come see your booth this weekend. I live in NY near there and would be happy to see your work and meet you. Also- I checked out your web site and it says that you'll be there so unless its a real deluge...it probably would be the right thing to show. Meg

Meg Levine Ceramic Studio
mlceramics@aol.com
(917)589-8480